Changing the in-haul line on Selden in-mast furling

[Craig Cook]

DO NOT FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM US SPARS.
The instructions say that you can service the furling while the mast is up.

Changing the Furling Rope:


Open the lower inspection covers and remove the tack shackle. This will disconnect the furling drum from the furling foil. Remove the machine screws holding the furling mechanism to the mast. These are located two at the top of the drum and two at the bottom of the drum.

I have learned the hard way that the instructions above are not accurate. YES, you need to remove the screws as they say, however the mast is not threaded, there are plates on the inside of the mast that these screws thread into, once you remove the screws the plates fall down to the bottom of the mast. Once these plates drop, the furling system is no longer operational. The only way to retrieve them is to pull the mast. You can NOT service the furling line with the mast up.

 

[seadaddler]

I am confused with what furling line or rope and trying to think of
a line going into the mast and only come up with the continuous line around the furling drum on the mast and don't think any line going into the mast on a selden furling mast.
You did say Selden inmast furling but really think you are talking about US Spars.
Nick

 

[Craig Cook]

Well, my mast says Selden on it, I believe US Spars is the American distributor?
To furl the main sail, there is a line that goes around a drum in the mast. That drum is roughly located at boom height inside the mast. When you pull the out-haul line the sail unwinds from the foil and the in-haul line winds onto the drum in the mast. To furl the sail you pull on the in-haul line which turns the drum in the mast and furls the main sail onto the foil. I have attached a drawing of the mechanism that lives inside the mast.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Hi Craig,

Definitely not a Selden as Selden doesn't have a drum as your diagram shows. I have seen the arrangement which you show on several boats near me and it may be a US Spars as seadaddler suggests.

 

[Craig Cook]

Thanks Ralph. I am by no means an expert on Selden. I do know that all the hardware on the mast is metric thread, I hate to use the word but I "assumed" it was made in Europe.

 

[uncledom]

That is a US Spars setup. Selden use a ring and pinion setup in the mast and the line goes around an external pulley attached to one of the gears.

http://www.neilprydesails.com/images/pdf/FurlingSystem Maintenance.pdf

Perhaps this will help.

 

[Craig Cook]

Thanks uncledom. I have that service guide, it is actually part of about a 60 page manual on the spar and boom. I also have the addendum for tuning the mast for a furling unit. That was the same manual I got the instructions for replacing the furling line that I referenced above. I could use some further schooling here though. So, US Spars is an actual spar builder and not just a spar broker or seller of someone else's product?

 

[uncledom]

Yes they are a manufacturer. You need to refer only to their manuals for your particular rig. I am not familiar enough with your furler to help more than I have unfortunately. I would try Maine Sail's forum, he is a font of useful information.

 

[Craig Cook]

I need to stop buying boats. Having bought and sold three in four years I guess I confused myself. You guys are correct, it is not a Selden, it is US Spars. I think the Selden may have been on the Island Packet?

Thanks for the advice and for setting me straight.

Craig

 

[Dan_Y]

To your original point, backing plates are great, but what a bummer of a way to find out. On the less maddening side, now you can put in LED bulbs on top the mast and rewire, inspect, etc...